2014 Salary Survey: Who Makes What

The Happiness Salary

When surveyed, Americans on average cite an annual income of $75,000 as the threshold for material happiness. Do Minnesotans who make that much agree?

Pricing analyst married to small-business owner

“We have both traveled the world, and I think doing that made us re-evaluate where we want to spend 40 hours of our week and what we want to do in our lifetimes. I’ve traveled to Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia and saw people happier than I was, living on much less. My wife left her job this past summer and we started our photography business; I’m still working my corporate day job. We’re having to be more conscious of where we’re spending our money. We cut back on things like cable, but now I’m spending more time with family and I’m more fulfilled. I’m happier now, but also hungrier because I actually know what I want to do for a living and I can see it, but it’s not in my hands. I’m amazed at how many of my coworkers or friends just don’t like what they’re doing, but they keep at it for the money.”

Craig Johnson, site manager of the James J. Hill House and actor/director

“I’m not sure ‘happiness’ is the right word, but I feel safe, secure, and content financially. I sometimes consider what would happen in the worst-case scenario, and I think, ‘Ok, I’m 53, and even if I lost my job, I wouldn’t be destitute.’ Because I’m pretty financially conservative, I have to keep reminding myself, ‘You have enough! You don’t need to worry!’ I don’t know what it’s like [to earn a lot more], but it’s such an American myth that more is more. People think that they’ll be happier with more money, but I know instinctively that that’s a fallacy. My needs are taken care of and my wants are fairly simple. I don’t want to be that guy with a second house and a yacht. Theater work is my calling and my passion, so for many, many years I thought of my historical society job as my day job, and I kept them separate. But for goodness’ sake, I work at the James J. Hill house, where the stress is, ‘Oh, there’s so much to do for the Victorian Christmas!’ C’mon—how hard is that? I get to see people enjoy that Charles Dickens moment. I get to create art and opportunities for people to come together. The downside is that I quite often work at least 60 and up to 80 hours a week because I do six to eight shows a year.”

Senior administrative assistant married to semi-truck driver, one child

“We’re living proof that [an income of $75,000] equals happiness. My husband got a new job as a full-time semi-truck driver, and now he comes home every night and is earning income. Oh man, I tell ya, the extra income is really helping—and seeing him every weekend is awesome. Now we can finally do things that are fun as a family, like going to the Como Zoo and going outside and hiking. At one point he was working two jobs to make half of what he’s making now, so it was really hard to do those things. The extra income makes you feel more at ease; it’s more fun to be around here now.”

Job Perks

Salaries are important, but envy-worthy perks can go a long way toward increasing a job’s cachet:

Pioneer Press restaurant critic Jess Fleming says she eats out two to five times a week on the publication’s dime—and that includes paying for a guest or two who can help sample a variety of dishes on the menu. The paper also springs for ingredients a few times a month to test new recipes.

photo Courtesy of Delta Airlines

Working at Delta Airlines can take you places, literally. After 30 days on the job, employees can travel anywhere Delta flies free of charge, as can their parents, significant other, and underage kids (passengers are subject to any government or airport fees). The downside to this perk is that employees fly standby—paying
customers go first.

Being a Minnesota Vikings cheerleader isn’t a rent-paying gig, but it does have some glamorous perks. Each cheerleader receives two season tickets, free hair cuts and coloring, brow waxing, tanning, gym membership, and makeup kits to make them look their best at games and photo shoots. The purple-and-gold gals also get free travel for appearances and tours.

Dairy Queen’s Edina headquarters keeps a stash of their signature Dilly Bars on hand for guests to munch on and gives each employee an allotment of credit to spend
at DQ shops.

Minnesota Women & the Wage Gap: The Differences are Still Startling

In 2013, the average full-time salary for a woman in Minnesota was $40,416. The average full-time salary for a Minnesotan man was $50,580. (National Partnership for Women & Families)

The highest paid female in Minnesota is Gail Boudreaux, executive vice president of UnitedHealth Group. In 2012, she earned $20.7 million. The highest paid male in Minnesota is James Cracchiolo, CEO of Ameriprise Financial. In 2012, he earned $46.3 million, more than twice as much as Boudreaux.(Star Tribune)

80% of women with children in Minnesota work, and 51% of Minnesota’s working mothers are the primary breadwinners for their families. 80% of Native American and African American working mothers in Minnesota earn the majority of their familes’ income. White, African American, and Latina women earn $.80, $.64, and $.56 on the dollar, respectively, compared to white men.(Minnesota Council on Foundations)

On average, women in Minnesota are paid $.80 for every dollar paid to men.(National Partnership for Women & Families)

Of the 100 highest paid CEOs in Minnesota, five are women. The highest paid female CEO is Sally Smith of Buffalo Wild Wings, who earned $3.5 million in 2012, placing her 30th on the list.(Star Tribune)

The starting salary for new female physicians right out of medical school is $16,000 less than that for their male counterparts. In 2010, the average starting salary for female Bachelor of Arts degree holders across the United States was 17% lower than the average starting salary for male BA holders.(Minnesota Council on Foundations)

Get Your Tickets Now!

Join us in Rochester for the final in our three-event series. Sample high-end spirits from around the world, enjoy gourmet bites, and be entertained by local bartenders. September 12th at Rochester Art Center